Fifteen adolescents and adults were assessed an average of eighteen
years after a type-III open subtalar dislocation. There were ten lateral
and five medial dislocations. Associated injuries included ten injuries of
the tibial nerve, seven of which were complicated by causalgia; five
ruptures of the posterior tibial tendon; five lacerations of the posterior
tibial artery; twelve articular fractures involving the subtalar joint;
three articular fractures of the talonavicular joint; three fractures of
the talar dome; and three malleolar fractures. Osteonecrosis of the body of
the talus was found in five of the fifteen patients. It was treated with a
triple arthrodesis in all five patients, one of whom had a subsequent
conversion to a pantalar arthrodesis. Subtalar arthrodesis was done,
because of post-traumatic osteoarthrosis, in two other patients. On
functional assessment at the long-term follow-up examination, all patients
reported some pain in the ankle, nine had difficulty climbing stairs,
fourteen had difficulty walking on uneven surfaces, and eleven wore
modified shoes. The patients who had had a tarsal arthrodesis returned to
their pre-injury occupation or to a less strenuous job. Four patients who
had persistent causalgia did not return to work. We concluded that open
subtalar dislocation is a distinctly severe injury and that only fair
functional and poor anatomical results can be expected in most
patients.